Action Lab: Danger Zone 2015
Written by Shawn Gabborin
Illustrated by Michela Da Sacco
Coloured by Yann Perrelet
Why is it that in horror franchises like this it’s always a girl that seems to survive to tell the tale? Just once i’d like to see the guy live through it all or even the bad guy triumph but that’s neither here nor there. Ah this is the issue we learn the truth about Corey and why all this is happening. Thanks to Shawn, Michela and Yann I have become quite taken with him, read that he’s cute as hell and well I wouldn’t mind seeing him have become the “New” Puppet Master. Regardless Shawn tells one hell of an introductary story here, seriously welcome back to the land of horror filled with miniture killers and it’s not lost it’s touch one single bit!
Aw we open up with Corey and Beth meeting for the first time. Again Corey’s life is a thing of mystery here but we get visual clues in his dorm room and I gotta hand props the interiors really are just hella good. Alright so Corey gets a phone call from a Dr. Kacmar and isn’t happy and that’s when he meets Beth as he’s walking, thinking and all that jazz.
Flash forward to the house and he’s introducing Beth to his new friends like everything that’s happened is no biggie. This is also a great recap or introduction to the individual puppets for those needing a refresher or not. As Corey tries to call her down she ends up running away so the chase is on. I mean really there has to be a chase scene before this is all over as Beth tries to regroup and figure a way out of this mess.
One of the things a good story is tell a tale a great story will surprise you with what happens along the way. When you know something is going to happen then how things proceed are more important than ever and Shawn’s managed to throw in a twist here and there that harkens back to issue one if you were paying attention so that the journey becomes more important than the destination. Also there’s a great bit of characterization happening here as well and honestly if they both could have survived I would’ve been happy because we really do get to know these kids.
The hits just keep coming too as the story reaches it’s climax and all is revealed. Andre Toulon and the truth about his friends and the dolls is confirmed and Beth’s future is laid before her.
This is one of those rare stories that manages to transcend the original campy cult classic horror movie status and moves into the realm of smart, modern day horror/thriller status. With a team that needs to work together for quite a long run of stories Action Lab: Danger Zone has put themselves into the ring as a contender in modern horror.